Trainman&#39;s lamp-handling appliance.



N0. 634,4I9. Patented Oct. 3, 1899.

R. H. WELDEN. TRAINMANS LAMP HANDLING APPLIANCE.

(Apglimtion filed Feb. 25, 1899.)

(No Model.) 7

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REUBEN HENRY wELDEN, OF MONTREAL, CANADA.

TRAINMANS LAM P-HANDLING APPLIANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 634,419, dated October 3, 1899.

Application filed February 28, 1899. Serial No. 707,240. No model.)

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, REUBEN HENRY WEL- DEN, of the city of MontreaLProvince of Quebec, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trainmens Lamp- Handling Appliances; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention, although applicable to the control of almost any illuminant, has particularly for its object to produce a simple and handy appliance for use by trainmen in adjusting the wicks of the overhead lamps of a railway-car; and it consists of a suitable handle carrying at one end a number of flexible fingers, adapted to take over the wheel of the wick-operating spindle, and means consisting, preferably, of a rotary cam-disk with means for operating same, whereby the fingers may be caused to first grip the wheel and then rotate same as may be desired.

For full comprehension, however, of the invention, reference must be had to the annexed drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which like symbols indicate corresponding parts, and Wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the appliance; Fig. 2, a front view of the upper end portion of same; Fig. 3, a similar view to Fig. 2, illustrating the parts in a different working position; and Fig. 4, a transverse sectional view taken on line 4 4, Fig. 1.

a is the handle proper of the appliance which is tubular to receive a shaft or spindle I), provided with a handle 0 at its lower end and carrying a bevel-gear d at its upper end to mesh with a second bevel-gear carried by a counter-shaft e, mounted in bearings f, projecting upwardly from a plate g on the upper end of the handle proper.

The counter-shaft c projects sufficiently at one side or end beyond the bearingf to carry loosely'thereon a flexible grippingor finger device comprising a body portion k, perforated centrally to fit loosely over the countershaft and having a number (in this case four),

of flexible fingers Z, projecting at right angles to such body portion beyond the end of the counter-shaft and approximately parallel to such shaft. The projecting portion of the counter-shaft also carries a cam-disk m, rigidly mounted thereon at its end. This disk has four cam-slots n, presenting outer bearing-surfaces n in the form of arcs of less radius than the radius of the disk itself (so that they may act as cam-surfaces) and inner straight surfaces 71 said fingers being formed with laterally-projecting lugs 12 adapted to I localize the cam-disk.

I11 using the appliance the fingers while free are fitted over the wheel X of a lamp-wickoperating spindle, and in order to raise or lower the wick the handle 0 is rotated to the right or left, as the case may be, the rotation .in either direction causing the are or cam bearing-surfacesn, bearing upon the fingers and pressing them centrolineally to first grip the wheel and by a continued rotation of the disk secure the necessary turn in g of the wheel and desired movement of the wick.

It is obvious that my invention can be utilized to equal advantage for turning the taps of gas-jets or for turning any small rotatable device not easily accessible.

lVhat'I claim is as follows:

1. An appliance for turning the device for controlling the supply of an illuminant, comprising a rotatory gripping device, means for causing said rotatory device to grip said controlling device, and means for rotating said gripping device.

2. An appliance for turning the device for controlling the supply of an illuminant comprising a rod or handle proper; fingers carried at one end of the rod or handle and adapted to grip said controlling device and means with operating mechanism for causing said fingers to grip said device and rotate same, for the purpose set'forth.

3. An appliance for turning a rotary device for controlling the supply of an illuminant, comprising a rod or handle; flexible fingers carried at one end of said rod or handle and adapted to grip said controlling device; arotatable cam-disk engaging each of said fingers to cause them to grip said device; and means for rotating said cam-disk substantially as described and for the-purpose set forth.

.4. An appliance for turning a rotary device for controlling the supply of an illuminant comprising a main tubular rod or handle; an operating-shaft extending throughout the tubular rod, a counter-shaft supported by the upper end of the tubular rod, operating-gear lineally to grip said controlling device and roconnection between said shafts, a cam-disk tate same as set forth. 10 carried rigidly by said counter-shaft and a In testimonywhereof I have al'fixed my sigseries of flexible fingers extending from a nature in presence of two witnesses.

body portion, mount-ed loosely on the eoun- REUBEN HENRY VVELDEN. ter-shaft, and extending through cam-slots in Vitnesses: the cam-disk whereby upon the rotation of \VILLIAM P. MCFEAT,

the latter said fingers will be pressed eentro- ALFRED J. SEARS. 

